Brunei Chinese Celebrates Lunar New Year

THE beating of drums and clash of cymbals resonated throughout the capital yesterday as hundreds of members of the Chinese community converged at the Teng Yun Temple to mark the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Goat.

The biggest event of the Chinese calendar, it is customary for Chinese communities all over the world to start off their Lunar New Year’s first day with offerings and prayers at a temple, and the community in Brunei Darussalam is no exception.

Amid thick smoke from burning candles and incense, a prominent lion dance troupe from Chung Hwa Middle School entered the temple’s courtyard to kick off the celebrations, performing to a crowd who had gathered as early as 7am to witness the colourful and lively performance.

The troupe later made their way into the temple, where worshippers could be seen entering and exiting to pay respects to their ancestors and make offerings as part of traditional prayers for prosperity, health and peace.A number of tourists, shutterbugs and passers-by were also attracted to the performances at the temple, while personnel from the Royal Brunei Police Force were stationed in the area to control the crowd and ease traffic.

Those attending the ceremony, especially children, were ecstatic as they patted the lion and handed over red packets or ‘angpow’ for good luck.

Chinese New Year celebrations showcase the nation’s multi-racial community, with people regardless of race conveying well-wishes to their Chinese friends.

As a popular tradition to usher in the Lunar New Year, the Chinese community yesterday began open-house invitations to visitors.

DESPITE first making its appearance in the Sultanate during the 1940s, Kuih Mor continues to be a household favourite today as a tea time snack or festive treat particularly during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Siti Norhafizah Hj Bagol, a final year student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam who researched on Kuih Mor as part of her Brunei Traditional Industry module, said the three-ingredient sweet treat may have existed in Brunei as early as the 1940s when padi was known to have been grown to make different food items.

Over time, the cookie has also become a popular door-gift choice often handed out at Malay weddings or gatherings, said Siti Norhafizah.

Made with flour, oil and granulated sugar which have been ground into a powder, the bite-sized biscuits have a crumbly texture and are coated with powdered sugar.

The age-old technique of making Kuih Mor by hand has however changed over the course of time, with many now opt…

BY COMMAND of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office hereby announces that His Majesty has consented to the transfer and appointment of the following senior officers – Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau and Solicitor General has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Datin Elinda binti Haji CA Mohamed, Special Senior Duties Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs has been appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau.